Everyone Seems to Be Moving to Public Cloud Platforms. What’s the Problem?
Just one word: SECURITY.

Public cloud platforms are less secure than an on-premises solution or a private cloud installation. There are several reasons for this:

Data Access vs Data Ownership

Many messaging service providers claim data is owned by the user. In one sense, this is true. However, are you sure you are the only one having access to your data? And if not, what do those companies do with your data? Some companies may use your data for their own purposes. Facebook, now known as Meta, is somewhat notorious for these practices.

While everyone claims the best motives and complete security, can you really be sure your data is totally secure when you do not know who is accessing it?

Every Transfer is a Weak Point in Your Cybersecurity Perimeter

Encryption at rest and in transit became a standard selling point. Yet, why take the risk? Data transmission is a weak point in your cybersecurity perimeter as it introduces another attack vector for cybercriminals. 

There is a better option. On-premises installations remove the extra steps of transmitting data to another system. Likewise, a private cloud keeps your data within your own environment. By having one of these hosting options, you exclude any third parties from your data.

Keep 3rd Parties Away from Your Data

Your communications, and all the data exchanged, are highly private information. Doctors transmit sensitive patient data. Financial services providers send bank information, trading analyses, and other proprietary messages. Keeping this data secure is crucial for protecting your customers, your reputation, and your business.

There are two simplest way to keep 3rd parties from your data: an on-premises installation or a private cloud  server secured against attack and data loss.

What Are The Advantages Of On-Premises Solutions?

Even though the world seems to be moving everything to the cloud, there are very good reasons to use an on-premises solution instead of a cloud provider. Primarily, on-premises software offers more flexibility, can be more secure, and provides more control for the owners.

1. On-Premises Systems Offer More Flexibility Over Every Operation

Software ownership has the advantage of being more flexible. When your company owns the software and controls its use, updates, and maintenance, it can be customised to meet your needs.

Here are some of the benefits of full ownership:

  • Full ownership allows your organisation to determine user access at every level.
  • Updates can be scheduled according to your organisation’s preferences.
  • Maintenance and downtime can also be planned when they are fully under your control.

Owning your data and software gives you complete control over its availability and access.

2. Data And Encryption Keys Can Be Held By Your Organisation

Another reason to move to on-premises vs cloud is data security and encryption. Who holds the encryption keys to your data? Can someone else gain access to your data?

 The opposite of this is true when a company adopts an on-premises vs cloud installation.

  • Access to the physical server can be controlled.
  • Data encryption and encryption key access can be controlled.
  • Unauthorised disclosure can be controlled.

Cloud platforms, by default, remove control from the end user and give it to the service provider.  An on-premises environment gives the end user complete control over their data security, encryption, and access keys.

3. Security Measures And Disaster Recovery Are Under Your Control

Clearly, public cloud security is not as good as advertised.

On-premises software platforms, on the other hand, can meet your security needs much better. All the security measures are completely under your control when the software is deployed on your private server or in your private cloud.

Disaster recovery is also simplified in an on-premises system. Data backups and their coordination become much easier when you have on-premises infrastructure.

Is The Cloud Or An On-Premises Solution Best For Your Messaging System?

Security is, by far, the most important concern when it comes to on-premises vs public cloud chat software.
The reason is simple: cost. Better security lowers costs by reducing the risk of a data breach.

An on-premises solution can be much more secure, access can be controlled by your IT team and administrators, and your company retains control over your data and encryption keys.

Public Cloud

  • Leak risk and security managed by cloud provider
  • Data access governed by third party provider
  • Updates and maintenance scheduled according to cloud preferences
  • Data protection and compliance reliant on third party
  • Lower upfront costs
  • Difficult to predict and control monthly/annual budget

Private Cloud or On-Premises

  • Leak risk and security managed by organisation
  • Data access controlled by business/organisation
  • Updates and maintenance scheduled to fit business demands
  • Data protection and compliance under the control of your company
  • Higher upfront investment
  • Monthly and annual budgets are predictable
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Data Ownership And Protection Regulations May Force Your Decision

GDPR inspectors hold the organisation and its partners, the cloud providers, responsible for data protection. Any breaches of the regulations by the partner could result in fines for your company. A major concern is that 67% of cloud providers are headquartered in the USA, but there is no US version of the GDPR. This makes compliance a tricky issue to clarify and resolve.

The same things are true for companies subject to HIPAA regulations. HIPAA compliance is becoming easier because so many organisations are focused on it. However, the burden for compliance still falls on the healthcare company. They could be liable for violations, even if the violations happened with their cloud provider.

Ultimately, your company is responsible for its regulatory compliance. Developing the right compliance steps and systems may be much simpler and faster in an on-premises system.

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Messagenius Offers The Best Of Both Solutions

Messagenius offers you the best of the cloud in an on-premises environment. We offer completely on-premises installations, a hybrid cloud model, and a private cloud system for companies without an existing data centre.

Instant messaging for complete security and exclusive data ownership

No matter what type of installation you choose, Messagenius guarantees that your enterprise data is safe. We focus on clear data ownership, security, and enterprise privacy.

Here are your installation options:

  • On-premise, on your enterprise private server for complete data ownership and physical security.
  • On your enterprise private cloud, where you retain data ownership and enjoy the efficiency of cloud operations.
  • On a Messagenius cloud server created and dedicated to your sole enterprise use.

Own Your Data with Private Encryption Keys

Messagenius operates a unique encryption key system. We hand over the encryption keys to you, and from then on, no one has access to your data except you.

As an extra layer of protection, we allow enterprises to have multiple holders of encryption keys. Splitting control minimises the risk for data leak.

Tailored Corporate
White-Label App

Keep your app's user experience and interface in sync with your brand identity. Get a custom private messenger that reflects the values and vision of your organization.

Are You Ready to Upgrade to a Better Solution?

Our team can provide you a full demo of the Messagenius platform. You can see for yourself how the user interface will help your groups work together better. We can show you the security features, a roadmap for installation, and the administrative functions of the system.

What is the difference between on-premises and cloud security?

The key difference is who is in charge of security. In an on-premises installation, the owner of the infrastructure manages their firewalls, antimalware, and security. In a cloud installation, the cloud provider manages the security of their service and the customer’s data.

Should your business house its applications on premise or in the cloud?

On-premises installations offer more operational control, higher security, and clearer data ownership. Cloud hosting might be less expensive in some cases. The choice really depends on the priorities for the business and its applications.

Are on-premise applications still relevant in the cloud?

On-premises applications are very relevant because they offer high security, control over access, and operational management of updates and maintenance. Hybrid models use on-premises software operating from a cloud provider with dedicated servers.

Is cloud faster than on-prem?

On-premises applications can operate very fast since they don’t require an external connection. However, on-premises deployments may take longer.

Is cloud more reliable than on-premises software?

The cloud may not be more reliable than on-premises software because cloud provider updates may be rolled out at any time. On-premises software can be managed to suit a business schedule.